Phonic apparatus.



D. HIGHAM.

PHONIG APPARATUS'.

APPLICATION FILED APR. 17, 1908.

1,036,235 Patented Aug. 20, 1912.

i PHONIC APPARATUS.

Specification of Letters Patent.

Patented Aue. 20, 1912.

Application filed April 17, 1908. Serial No. 427,703.

To all whom t may concern:

Be it known that I, DANIEL HLGHAM, a citizen of the United States, and a resident of East Orange, .1n the county o Essex and State of New Jersey, have invented certain-` new and useful Improvements in Phonic Apparatus, of which the following is a description. T

vMy invent-ion relates'to phonic apparatus of'the type in which a shoe is held in frictional engagement with the periphery of a rotating `wheel of suitable material, such as amber, and the pressure of said shoeupon said wheel is varied by any suitable means which is representative of'sound vibrations and whichA may be termed t-he primaryv vibrating means, as for example, a reproducer stylus capable of being operated by 4a phono-` graph sound record. Such variations in pressure cause corresponding variations in the friction between the wheel and shoe,

thereby causing the shoe to vibrate inaccordance with the sound vibrations andsuch vmovements of the .said shoe maybe transmitted by any suitable mechanical connec- .tion toa diaphragm or other means for propagating the effects of rsuch variations ir. friction Jand which may be termed the secondary vibrating means. In this class of apparatus the friction shoe in frictional ccntact with the rotating friction wheel has'a certain angular extension lwith respect to the periphery of the friction wheel and itis desirable lthat the angle of such extension should be considerable so that the shoe will have a tendency to bite 7 or bind upon the friction wheel. The required amount of this circumferential extension or the degree of mechanical bite of the shoe must, in order to obtain the best results, vary inversely with the coeliicient ofKfriction of the frictional contact of the shoe and rotating wheel ,that is, a 'lower 'coefficient 'of friction will require a greater circumferential extension'V or a stronger bite, and a highercoetli-v cient will require correspondingly less-.extension or bite to obtain equal results'from this type of apparatus. In such apparatus, however, the amount of circumferential extension of the friction shoe cyarlnotnbegreadily varied, although owing ,-to varying atmospheric conditions which always affect the cociiicient'of friction, the latter continually' varies so that it has heretofore been impossible to secure uniformlyl good results with this type of apparatus.

It is lthe object of this invention to provide I means whereby variations in coeiiieient of friction can be readily compensated for, such means acting to vary or adjust the degree yof the mechanialbite of the friction shoe' upon the rotating friction wheel.

In order that inyinventiorbmay be more fully understood, reference iskhereby made to the accompanying, drawing,-of which-v Figure 1 is a side elevation,.partly in section, of an, apparatus constructed in accordance with my invention and adaptedto be used as a phonograph reproducenand Fig. 2 is a view of certain of the from the left in Fig. l.

parts as viewed" In the apparatus shown, the .friction wheel 1, preferably of-ambeiglis mounted on the horizontal shaft 2 which isl journaled.y in suitable bearings 3 and driven in the direction of the arrow by a shaft41formed-witha worm 5 which engages la worinK gear 6 fixed tol the-shaft 2. The shaft 114: is journaled in bearings 7 and 8- and isprovided with a pulley 9 over whichf'passes ka drive belt 10. The friction/ shoegll is applied to the periphery of theiwheel 1,l and there is a link 12 pivoted at oneendfto the shoe 11 and at the other endlto'a stylus lever 13 which .carries a phonograph reproducer stylus 14 adapted to, track the 'sound'record groove of the record cylinder a, which .is rotatedl and advanced by usual means. The

lever 13 is pivcted at' 15 to a lug :16 depending from a wpightl which is pivoted at 18 to a support 19. The weight 17 'issimilar to ,the ordinary floating weight of anJEdison' reproducen diaphragm 24 of mica `or other suitable nia-- terial. The diaphragm 24` is seated within the frame 25 and secured in position bythe lclamping ring 26. 'The' forward and rear edges ofthe frame 25 are provided with lugs 27 to which at 28 are pivoted the links 29. The lower -ends of said links are piv.` oted at 30 to any suitable support, and the angular position of the links 29 with respect to their fsupport and of the link 2() with respeer .to the shoe 11 and wheel .Lr-is deter-` There is a thrust link).- or -cou-"Qi pling 20pivoted at21 to theshoe 11y and at 22 to' ahead 23 secured to vthe-center of .a

mined and may be varied by an adjusting'l screw 31 which is threaded inthe support 32. The bearing 8 has an lextension 33' to which is pivoted at 36 a' weight 34 having a depending arm y35 which 'bears against the end of the shaft 4. This weight carries an index finger 37 which conemtes lwit-ha Xed y scale 38 to indicate the rise and fall inthe amount of thrust imparted to the shaft 4 in driving the Afriction wheel 1,' the" friction shoe' 11 being pressed against the periphery 'of the friet-ion wheel by the tension of, the link 12 due to gravity of the weight 17. From the drawing it will be seen and'understood that lthe link 20 will impart y,a me-A chanical bite tendenc to the shoe 11 owing to its angular disposltion in relation to the friction wheel' 1. The varying or adjusting i 4 of this angle of link 20 which in turn varies vor adjusts the mechanical bite tendency of the friction shoe, and thereby compensates for variations in the coefficient of friction of the frictional contact of tlie friction shoe y with the rotating friction wheel is' an important feature of my invention. It will be arrangement of. an apparatus capable of producing good results. It is evident, howused the angular extension should be defurther seen from the drawing that link 20 and links 29 are parallel andA of equal length and therefore, the angle of link 20in' rela- Ition to the friction wheel 1, can be' readily adjusted withoutv changing the position of the friction shoe' on the friction wheel, yfor the adjusting screw 31'in swinging links 29' i about the pivotal points of supprt 301! swings the` linkl Q0 about the point' .,21, on,v shoe; 11 without lchangingfthe positionjof' the friction shoe'. v t The structure illustrated represents the creased. AVifhen'the apparatus is j-in proper axdju'stment the resistance of the wheel 1 to imitation. will impart a sufficient thrust to.

the'shaft 4 to lmoveandsustain the weight 'i `lv34 'whereby the index finger 37 will vdesigiflrte the zero mark on. the scale 38. When e amount o f friction falls below that which .g is requisite the `weight 34 will descend which indicates that the apparatus is out of adjustment owing to fall in the coeicient ofV l friction andthe adjusting screw 31 Willthen be turned'so a's .to move inward, 'thereby in# creasing the bite of theshoe on the friction wheel `and compensating lfor the fall in the coefficient of friction and which compensa- .ationl will be -indicated by the rising of the weight 34 to the proper position. On the other hand if the weight-34 is seen vto .be above its proper working position this 4indicates` that the apparatus' is out of adjust- .mentowingto excessive friction or bite of y the shoe upon the wheel and is corrected by turnin fthe adjusting screw 31 so asto cause the lin t 20 to move toward a line tangent to the friction wheel. The amount of friction developed'depends' both upon the angularextent ofthe friction shoe-around the wheel 1 `and upon the Vangle of the link 20, so that angle of said link to use a shoe ,of more or less than 130 with the same coeflicient of friction and with the same tension on the link 12, but I prefer the arrangement shown and described'.

.f The weight 17 should be ofpropersize for causing the stylus 14 to properly ,track the sound record groove of the cylinder a, asin an Edison phonograph reproducer, and the vtotal -thrust upon the shaft 4 duc to the re- ;sistance ofthe friction wheel may be ap 3 proximatelyseven times the tension on the link 12 when the relative' "diameters of the ,friction wheel 1 and gear-6 areas shown. If'the-jdiameter of the wheel 1 is increased or that ofthe gear 6 decreased the thrust yuponthe shaft 4 will be correspondingly in- 6 increased.- Y

it is possible byusing asomewhat different4 creased and vice versa when the diameter of the `Wheel'l is.decreased or that of the gear i Having now described my invention, what ,A v

I claim is v v' 1. In an apparatus of .the character described, the combination of a rotating friction wheel, a shoe engaging the same, a

floating weight,` a stylus lever pivoted to said weight, a connection between said Weight and said lshoe through which the said weight acts upon said shoe to press the -sanie against the friction wheel, a thrust member secured to said'shoe and pressing, the same against the wheel when the latter isrotating, and means for varying the pressure so exerted7 substantially as set forth. 2s In an apparatus of the character described, the combinationof a rotating friction wheel, la shoe in engagement with the upperV surface'thereof, a diaphragm connected to said shoe,fa floating weightand a stylusl lever and stylus carried thereby and connected to said shoe whereby the Heating weight tends to'press` the shoe down upon vthe friction wheel, substantially as set forth.

In an apparatus of the character'described, the combination of 'a rotating friction wheel, 4a lshoe in engagementwith the 'upper surface thereof, secondary vibrating means connected to' said shoe, a floating weight and alevervpivoted to said weight land connected to said`shoe whereby the fioat'- ing weight tends to press the' shoe down .upon the friction wheel, substantially as set forth. Y

4. In an apparatus of thecharacter described, the combination if a rotating fric-` tion wheel, a shoe in engagement therewith,

'secondary vibrating means, means for coupling said secondary vibrating means to said shoe and means for varying the angle of said coupling with respect to said ,friction wheel to vary the'bite of said shoe on said wheel, substantially as set forth.

5. In an apparatus'of the character described, "the combination of ya rotating fric-- varv the bite of'saidsho'e 'on'said wheel,

substantially as set forth. v y

6. In an apparatus of the character described, the combi-nation of a rotating friction wheel, a' shoe-'fin engagement therewith, secondary vibrating means connected to said shoe and 1an adjustable support therefor foi` varying-'the angle ofthaconnectionof the y vibrations, meansv for.: rotating said wheel secondary' vibrating means with 'said shoe to vary the bite of s'aid shoe von said wheel,

substantially as set forth.

7. In an apparatus of the character described, the combination of a rotating friction wheel, a shoe in engagement therewith, secondary vibrating means, a link pivot-ally connected to said shoe and said secondary vibrating means, and a support'forthe latter. adjustable to move to different positions to vary the angular position of said link to varythe bite of said shoe on said wheel,

and means for holding said support in a` desired position, substantially as set forth.

8. In an apparatus of' the character described, the combination of a rotating friction wheel, a shoe in-engagement therewith, secondary vibrating means, a link pivotally connected to said shoe land said secondary vibratin means, and a support for the latter comprising pivotal links approximately parallel and equal in length to said connecting link, substantially as set forth.

9. In an apparatus ofthecharacter dei scribed, theI combination of'a rotating fricf tion wheelfa shoe in engagement therewith,

means for varying. the friction between said shoe and wheel in accordance with sound vibrations, means for rotating said wheel and means for indicating under all conditions of operation the resistance of said Wheel against rotation, substantially as set forth.

l0. In an apparatus' of the 'character described, thel combination of a rotating friction wheel, a shoe in engagement therewith, a' shaft, means supporting said shaft to allow some axial movement thereof, a Worm gear on saidshaft, a worm meshing with ance with sound vibrations, secondary vibrating means, connections between veach of the said yibrating means and said shoe, andk means fon-indicating under all conditions o f operation the lresistance of saidl wheel against rotation, substantially as set forth.

12. In an apparatus of the character tie-- scribed, the combination vof a rotatable friction wheel, a shoe in engagement therewith,

means for varyingjthe friction between said shoe and wheely in accordance with sound including a shaft mounted to allow some axial movement' thereof and so positioned as to be given a thrust by the resistance against rot-ation of the friction wheel, and means `for measuring the thrust thus imparted substantially as set forth.

13.' In an apparatus of the character de-v scribed, the combination of a rotatable friction wheel, a shoe in engagement therewith, means for varying the friction between said shoe and .wheel in accordance with sound vibrations, means. for rotating said wheel including a shaftmounted to allow some scribed, thecombination of Ia rotatable friction wheel, a shoe in engagement therewith, means tending to4 ypress said lshoeagainst said wheel, -means for varying the pressure of said shoe upon said wheel in accordance withl sound Vibrations, andmeans for indieating under all conditions of operation the resistanceof said Wheel against rotation, substantially as set forth.

ifhis specification signed and witnessed this 15th day of April 12908.

DANIEL HIGHAM.

- Witnesses:

H. H. DYKE, FRANK D. Lnwis.

Copies of this patent'may be obtained for ve cents each. by addressing the Commissioner of Patents. Washington, D. C. 

